Shafer Trail

A nice easy trail to get your Jeep dusty! We tackled this trail with the top and doors off. While I did air downthe tires, I never took the jeep out of 2WD. Beautiful scenery. This was our first visit to Moab and this was a great way to be introduced.

Last time we went from top down. This time it was from bottom up. The road was dry. Relatively smooth with good passing points.Going up gives you a new perspective as you see the road from a different view point.

Easy trail, well maintained with amazing views.

Well-maintained gravel road with no obstacles. Most of the shelf road is wide enough for two vehicles, but there are several narrow spots where it’s one at a time. Multiple pull outs. The grade was consistently about 12-14% according to the vehicle’s level sensor. When running the route uphill, the biggest issue was a steady stream of descending rental jeeps that lacked the confidence to pass on a shelf road.

One of my favorite roads, I've been on it 3 times. 2 times in the summer and once in the winter (snowing and raining that day, what a fun, messy day that was!). All 3 times, we went down from Canyonlands NP and then ran the Potash Road back to Moab. The views of the rock formations and the Colorado River really make this trail a 5 star.

Great view and very easy from a technical perspective. I had someone with me that was not a fan of driving on a shelf road and got to the point that they were a distraction when trying concentrate on an other wise easy trail. The trail is easy but like any shelf road trail you can't get distracted or the consequences could be fatal. Lesson learned to double and triple check my passengers' level of comfort on a trail. I was assured they were good to go only to have a very terrified passenger. No fun for them and no fun for me.

Fun way to get ready for white rim. Unfortunately, our white rim run ended about 2 miles in when my buddy broke a brake line and we had to limp into moab.

Trail rating is spot on. I found it would be easier starting from MOAB. Less braking. I ran into an older couple with a convertible beetle. Hopefully they made it safely. Perfect weather and Views

Trail is relatively short and easy but a little unnerving. Such gorgeous views. A very cool experience. Went after rainfall and trail was fine.

Overall a great trail to start off on. The switchbacks were awesome. Plenty of space to allow vehicles to pass.

Fun drive down the switchbacks and into the valley. Family enjoyed it. Easy in our F250 Tremor. One turn was a bit tight and we had to 3-point it. Lots of traffic so just be courteous and patient, there are lots of pullouts. This is doable in almost any vehicle, we saw all manner of rental cars and things making the trip. We combined this with Potash road to exit out. After seeing the view from Canyonlands, can't wait to come back and do White Rim some day.

Ran this trail UP so from Potash to 313. Preferred the up as my wife wasn't thrilled with it so up was the LESS scarey option for her....NOT ME!! But going up does have its advantages with little or no braking. Enjoyed the trail, dont be afraid of this its a great trail with wider spots to pass just be observant ahead of you and be COURTEOUS! PS. My wifes Grandparents are "SHAFER" this spelling, So i got away with it...LOL. Her Grandfather and Great Uncle invented the Shafer Ball Bearing during WWII, which was pivotal in winning the war.

I ran this the other direction, along with Potash Road, as going up the switchbacks is my preference rather than down.

Amazing trail! Drove down it and then back up it instead of exiting on potash road. I then drove over to Long Canyon and down it to the town of Moab. Excellent views on Shafer. A few areas had some snow slush and ice but not too much overall and very doable. 4WD and low is great to control the decent/accent. Gorgeous!

Do not let the fact that this trail is a steep shelf road with multiple switch backs scare you. It’s wide enough to pass another vehicle and there are plenty of stock rental cars going up and down the trail. The views from the top are awesome!

Steep grade, but the road is great. Iconic views! It never gets old.

HOLY COW! Our first Jeep trail experience ever… what a way to start off. Totally affirmed buying a Jeep was the right thing to do! My 3yo son says, very nonchalantly, “Dad, don’t drive off the ledge.” I didn’t and we made some great memories today.

Easy trail, amazing views. Many places to pull over for traffic.

Absolutely incredible views. The road is passible in a Subaru level vehicle. Be prepared to stop many times and stare at your surroundings.

Gorgeous views descending into the canyon!

Really cool trail and not to difficult. The hardest part is having family members who are scared of heights because they will be scared on the switchbacks. Would definitely recommend.

This is a beautiful and iconic trail. I did find the height and narrow spots a little more difficult than “easy”. Anyone without a pretty decent rig would have challenges. Worth the drive for the white rim trail.

Fantastic drive, and amazing vistas, as usual. But, I would like to note that there can be obnoxious people on this road. I was following a big Ford truck, from Texas, down the trail. He had at least a 2 feet on the right side of his truck. Definitely enough space for his "Karen" wife to get out and lecture the two cars going up the trail. The Ford driver was waving his ands and yelling at the other two vehicles. In the end, he forced a Jeep off the road, and a Subaru was almost off the road. The Truck cleared with plenty of space, and took off with no regarding to his actions. It took several of us, and a tow strap to rescue the Jeep from completely falling into the mountain side ditch. My understanding is that the downhill-facing driver must yield. Apparently, the Ford occupants were more important than anyone else. I've done this drive several times. Never been disappointed.

Absolutely recommend this trail. It's not difficult, especially if you have 4-Lo and can slowly roll down the hill. You are right on the edge of a very intense cliff though, so only do this if you're ok with that. Epic views. If you're in the area at least hit this one and go back up (or combine with Potash like I did).

Epic must do trail, unless you’re afraid of heights, in which case definitely do not do. Just put it in low and glide down easy. You can easily see most of the switchbacks and down into the valley most of the way if you go down from the top so no excuse not to yield the right of way to other drivers. Plenty of wide spots, don’t drive this if you don’t understand or intend to honor switchback etiquette please.

The views are fantastic. Take your time and enjoy the views.! The switch backs can be exciting in traffic 😳

Essential trail when visiting Moab, especially when combined with the Potash Road. The switchbacks look intimidating, but in good weather they are nothing to worry about. So many great overlooks and photo opportunities. You can make a really good day starting at 191, taking the Gemini Bridges road, connecting to 313, and continuing on to Shafer and Potash Roads. Throw in Bull Canyon for an extra adventure! I was aired down to 20psi from a previous trail, which definitely smoothed things out, but it's not really required. 3rd Gen Tacoma, stock height, Toyo Open Country ATIII "32s", full skids and sliders (not needed).

Short and easy trail with amazing views! Shafer Trail is an impressive shelf road experience with a few hundred feet of elevation gain (or drop). There are no real obstacles and you'll usually have enough space to let oncoming traffic pass.

Fun, fun, fun! We did this trail to go down the switchbacks and into the canyon! What a rush and so beautiful. The road has just recently been graded.

Great trail to warm up to the heights of Moab. Awesome views and a very fun climb, I would recommend coming from Potash Road so you are going up the switchbacks.

Graded dirt road. However, there are a couple of tight spots where full size/oversized pickups are problematic. The gal going down in a superduty with Texas plates would not yield to up hill traffic and a guy in a Tacoma almost ended in a ditch when he backed up for her. Anyway, oversized trucks are not for these trails.

This was not really a technically demanding trail, just high up on a shelf road, if heights are not your thing this may not be the best road for you. The views are amazing, just make sure you are watching the road.

The temp closure was lifted.

Closed due to ice and snow.

Closed temporarily due to icy conditions.

Wow - amazing incredible must-do trail with views views views but definitely not for the faint of heart! Almost entirely graded and well maintained with no concerns other than the side-of-cliff roadway. This trail is popular and because some parts are narrow and inhabited with less experienced drivers, you may find yourself backing up in places where you’d rather not. But all in all a definite can’t miss if you are visiting Canyonlands NP.

A trail I have been wanting to do for a while. Finally did it on an impromptu trip, and didn't plan on doing this until we got there. Took it all the way to Moab. Defiantly worth it and plan on doing it again.

Cold and a little sketchy at the top with snow and ice on the first few switchbacks but no issues.

FYI: Shafer Trail Road will close for required maintenance November 7–8 (Monday through Tuesday).

Great trail that offers even better views! The switch backs look more intimidating than they actually are. There are plenty of pull offs and plenty of room to pass oncoming traffic. The views from the top or worth the drive up.

Great easy trail, we combined it with Potash Road. We ran it in the direction noted here. This was our last run of the week and it was a good way to end our visit to Moab. The switchbacks look intimidating but are not bad, just take your time.

A very easy road that provides insane views. Highly recommended.

Be advised: Shafer Trail Road will close for routine maintenance October 24–27, October 31–November 3, and November 7–10 (Mondays through Thursdays). During this time, the road will reopen for public use at 4 pm Thursdays and remain open through weekends, closing again at 7:30 am Monday morning.

Fun, beautiful, and in good condition

Recent rains have created more erosion issues. AWD or 4WD is recommended.

Fantastic views and just enough pucker factor to make it an exciting drive without being technical. Recent rains have left some deep ruts along the road and a few washouts, but BLM construction vehicles were repairing things even as I drive the trail. Combine with the Potash Road for an excellent few hour drive between Canyonlands and Moab.

Iconic and easy to get to from Island in the sky district. Saw a lot of AWD and FWD cars/SUV on the road so it must be doable. Not too difficult but can be busy. If you want the same or perhaps a better expirience with less traffic, check out the switch backs on Mineral Bottom Road.

Fun trail and breaks you in for White Rim. It’s steep and easily passable if you pick your spots but nothing anyone with off-road experience should worry about.

This is a must do when visiting Canyonlands. It's a very easy drive but the sheer drop-offs along much of the trail create enough pucker factor that you'll certainly never take your eyes off the road. If heading down make sure and take it very slowly. Many of the switchbacks have a pretty steep grade and slamming on the breaks isn't going to stop your vehicle immediately if you're doing much over 8-10mph. And let me tell you, sliding an extra foot of two before coming to a stop on this trail will scare the heck out of you. Luckily I learned the lesson mid switchback and not at the end of one when needing to turn. I also recommend putting your vehicle in a lower gear and letting your engine do some of the breaking for you so you aren't constantly riding your break. My last bit of advice is look ahead down the trail, way ahead if you can. Plan for where you want to sit and wait for a vehicle coming up to pass you. It's a lot more comforting to be able to pull to the side that has a wall than to the side that falls off into the abyss. All that said, if you take your time and use caution you'll be treated to some absolutely amazing views and an experience you'll never forget.

It was a fun road but not for anyone super weary of heights / shelf roads. There are points where there are significant drop-offs, no barriers, and narrowing roads. Lots of areas for pullouts if you meet up with someone going the other way, overall an easy, enjoyable drive and the scenery was outstanding. Took from the bottom of the trail, up to Island in the Sky visitor center. Drives you passed 'Thelma & Louise Point', then onto the higher elevation shelf road. Good fun overall - wife was a little white knuckled throughout the last 5-6 miles on those roads though, simply due to the height and narrowness of the road.

Super fun & easy trail with beautiful views. Continued on Potash Road and into Moab. Switch backs are fun with pretty good visibility to oncoming vehicles. Lunch overlooking the Colorado River was perfect.

Trail was great today. We headed up from Potash towards Canyonlands. No issues on the lower sections and the road looked to be recently bladed. Towards the top, there were several sections of packed snow and ice (even in the late afternoon) that could cause issues. On Jeep we passed relayed a story of a truck that slid into the canyon wall that morning. Overall it was a great drive.

Sweeping dramatic views as you ascend the side of the canyon. Plenty of pull offs and a long line of sight aid in passing other vehicles. Not for those with a fear of heights or shelf roads, although the road is pretty wide in most places. Coupled this with Potash as an alternative route into Canyonlands NP.

The NPS has opened the road. Enjoy!

A winter storm advisory has temporarily closed Shafer. https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Closed due to hazardous ice and snow conditions. There is currently no anticipated date of reopening. Potash Road is recommended as an alternative. Check here for the most up to date info:https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/road-conditions.htm

did this going up after coming in via the potash road. route becomes much smoother and easier once inside the nat'l park boundary. switchbacks were dry and smooth when we did them. no challenge at all as long as you're not afraid of heights. absolutely stunning views. would be a different story when it's wet, though. we visited the park again the next day in the rain/snow and the vehicles we saw come in via this route were covered in epic amounts of mud...

We came in from Moab on Potash Road...easy drive...minimum traffic...no fee is required if you come in this way...turn around at the top and go out the way you came in...no fee. What can you say about the view...just absolutely beautiful. There is two-way traffic so if you wish to gawk, please stop and pull over. No guardrails or signage. 2 wheel drive unlocked the entire way. A couple of hours well spent, and no crazies trying to climb something they know they can't make. We got rained out for three days out of seven, so did not get to go everywhere we wanted, but still enjoyed and will be returning.

Schafer Trail is really just a set of switchbacks, but they're a lot of fun! Most of the trail is wide enough for 2 vehicles which is good because you should expect to have to share the road with oncoming traffic. There was only one time when we were worried about passing but those sections were short and it was easy to see oncoming vehicles so you could easily plan your stops. Nothing difficult here, but if you continue on to Potash Road you will encounter a bit more of a challenge (but not by much). We ran this trail dry, and while dry I would actually rate this as a 1.

Drove from east to west after taking the Potash Road from Moab. Shafer Trail was very well-maintained, unlike Potash Road. There was a fair amount of traffic in both directions, but not so much that it was a problem. It was lots of fun to drive and the views are spectacular! The switchback turns were not a problem for our long wheelbase.

A great road that leads to two other fun trails. There are some spectacular views but if you have a very healthy respect for heights this might be challenging.

Views are world class! Road in great condition. We came down, which in my opinion provides the better views. There was a 20 minute wait at the park entrance. Beautiful views while waiting and it was a cool weather day, so no problem. Used four low to keep speed down to avoid over-using brakes. We exited the park via Potash Road, otherwise it would be a good up-down trail.

This was an unexpected surprise. We drive it from the bottom to the top which makes for some interesting questions as the switchbacks blend in really well leaving you to question how you will get up the wall. Road is plenty wide especially for a shelf road. Had 2 plus inches of snow at the top and ended up airing up in the snow. Wild weather

I had seen this trail from the top in Canyonlands on a previous visit with a buddy, and it looked scary. But, I didn't have a Jeep then and had never done any offroading. So, three years later and with my 2018 Jeep Wrangler on a solo trip I wanted to take it on. It turned out to be quite easy, with beautiful views, and pure joy being out on such a gorgeous day. Little to no traffic encountered. I went down first and turned around to go back to the top. After a packed lunch was eaten, I drove back down again and then continued all the way to Moab via the Potash road. There were many places to turn off and take in the views on the lowland sections and be completely alone. It's a nice leisurely trip. I loved it.

My 5 star rating is based on being a real newbie and only this trail for a reference point. This was our first challenge in our stock 2020 Jeep Overland and loved it. We opted to start at the "top" and work down and east to Moab via Shafer Trail and Potash. I think the top to bottom route give you the best views and ability to see opposite direction traffic. There were plenty of spots to pull to the side when needed. Driving on the edge seemed intimidating but not so bad once we got on the route. The road from top to bottom is actually pretty good with the tighter "hair pin" turns a little rutted but not bad. The road after you reached the flatter area was actually more rough with sections of bumpy rock but nothing to really challenge our jeep for clearance. Running down the ledges was easy in 4 wheel low in 2nd or 3rd gear (About 9-15 MPH between turns). Even on the relative flats I used 2nd through 4th gears in 4 wheel low and was comfortable in speed and torque for the trail. I seldom exceeded 15 MPH through the course. (I'm certain experience folks with proper equipment could go faster. We took about 3 hours from the trail head to the end of Potash road. That included a lot of time for taking pictures.

When I went there I expected a harder trail but I got a nice cruise instead it might be good for Prerunner or some high-speed action as long as you are careful. there are some scenic views and almost at the end, there is some kind of farm.

Classic!! The views are amazing as you come down from Island in the Sky. It's not for the faint of heart if you're afraid of heights. That said, it's an easy drive down and truly unique!

Great drive into Canyonlands. Many folks start in Canyonlands and then go down and come back up - really recommend you start the trip off 191 near Arches, and come in through Potash Road and go up this trail. It will be a nice day tip and you will get to see a lot of other great things besides just this trail. The overlooks here are great, and the switchbacks and cliff road are usually wide enough for cars to pass. Any vehicle type should have no problem with this, unless it is wet.

Whst a Fun Trail, Very Scenic and the Switch Backs made it Awesome

My wife and I rented a Jeep for the day, and wow, what a great first trip. It was a beautiful area and gave me my first experience driving roads like this. It was a little harrowing on those switchbacks, as we were headed up, and others were headed down. I would suggest keeping an eye out where you can to look for oncoming vehicles and find those pull-offs to wait for people to pass. We had one frustrating experience with a driver that wouldn't pull over enough to let us through (even though there was plenty of room and they were next to the safe side!). We had to back up quite a ways to the 180 turn that was wide enough to pass by. Overall a great ride and beautiful area.We started from Moab and ended in Canyonlands... would probably try the other way around next time.

Hi everyone - new poster from the UK here! I was invited by Trails Off Road to leave a review and post pictures of my "accidental" drive down the Shafer Trail after commenting on a video of it on YouTube. Sooo... and bear with me, the back story is fascinating (possibly not). My screensaver at work in London is of Dead Horse Point and I was obsessed with getting the exact same photo so after going to the official view point which was a lot higher than the view I needed to get the photo, we asked someone how "we can get down there", were given directions and off we went. It all started okay, we left the Visitor Centre and turned left onto the road down as we had been told...... What followed was the most terrifying thing I have ever done. Bear in mind that my other half is a truck driver so an accomplished driver who wasn't fazed at all but the rental car we were in (Kia Sportage... stop laughing!) was booked on my credit card and when I wasn't worrying about dying in a Thelma & Louise style dive over the edge, I was thinking how much a snapped axle would cost me. I will never forget doing this drive and while I genuinely thought I was about to die all the way down, I'm proud to say that we did it. Thank you for reading!

A must if you're in the Canyon Lands area. The trail is easy because it's a well groomed gravel road but you and your passengers better not be afraid of narrow shelf roads. We saw all types of vehicles on this route. Remember to downshift and not burn up your brakes.

Nice easy Moab trail. Among the vehicles that I saw on this trail - A Subaru Outback and a Chevy longbed dually. Theres no way in hell I'd want to make 8 point turns in a longbed dually on that trail. Just seemed obnoxious. This trail provides great views of the Colorado River and the general Moab area. If you are squeamish about heights, this may not be the trail for you.

Pretty rad driving down the switchbacks. Easily done in 1st and 2nd gear in 4 Low. There's a few pull offs at the top of the switchbacks that are well worth the stop.

Our incredible weekend in Moab ended with Shafer Trail, and what a way to end the trip it was. The views from the top of, and on the switchbacks are absolutely phenomenal. I thought Moab was great, but this trail truly made me fall in love with the area and I can't wait to get back. Can be done in any 4x4 vehicle. If you are anywhere near Canyonlands, do yourself a favor and take a couple hours to check this out. You will not regret it.

My first exposure to shelf roads. Needless to say, I was white knuckled the whole way down. Reality is, it's really not that bad. Absolutely stunning views. I would say that it's an absolute must do trail if you're in the area.

This is the way we normally access the white rim trail, or run down the white rim to access the river for a good break then head back out via potash road this makes a nice loop without doing the entire white rim. But this section is all about the switchbacks which are amazing

An easy and scenic drive that consists of a winding and descending road with great views and imposing edges. A must see/do trail for all that visit Moab.

One of those trails you never get tired of. This was my 3rd time driving this road and it still always leaves me with a sense of wonder as I do. Today was a great day on the trail, even during an Easter Jeep Safari week we did not encounter any other vehicles on the trail as we descended. One tip I would give is that before drive the road, be sure to check out the overlooks off of the main paved road that gives you additional vantage points on a grander scale.

A lot of twists and turns. The road is well maintained. It worked for my RAV4.